Ana the turtle reveals 'oceanic superhighway'

The remarkable journey of a green turtle from Indonesia to Australian waters has revealed an 'oceanic superhighway' that has helped scientists understand how they navigate around the world.

Ana, a female green turtle, was tagged in Indonesia in November as part of a turtle tracking project by WWF and Udayana University in Bali, Indonesia.

Scientists have tracked her migratory route online from a nesting beach in East Java, across the Indian Ocean, and on to the coast of Western Australia.

Green turtles travel from nesting sites on Indonesia to Australian waters, a study tracking one turtle called Ana has found

Her journey, monitored online by WWF, demonstrates the strong biological ties between Indonesia and the reefs on the west Australian coast.

'Ana’s journey is unique. She has revealed an ‘oceanic superhighway’ that helps us better understand how marine turtles navigate around the world’s oceans as well as highlighting the strong ecological and evolutionary connections between Indonesia and Australia’s Kimberley-Pilbara coast,' said Gilly Llewellyn from WWF.

Ana travelled through the Coral Triangle, an area that spans Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. It contains critical habitat for six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles.

All of these species are threatened with extinction as a result of pollution, long-line and trawl fishing that results in the accidental catch of marine turtles, and an illegal trade in turtle eggs, meat, shells and skin.

'Ana’s journey has shown us areas where we need to focus our efforts. We need to tap into the secret lives of species such as turtles, so we can design networks of marine protected areas that conserve the full range of plant and animal life, and ensure their longevity for years to come,' Ms Llewellyn said.

WWF’s Coral Triangle Program is currently working to ensure the health of the region's wildlife in the face of human threats in the Indian and Pacific oceans that include long-line and trawl fishing and pollution.

WWF’s marine conservation efforts in the region include the development of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect and conserve marine wildlife, and to ensure that all fishing is carried out in a sustainable manner.